Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1887-09-09
Truth Stranger Than Fictio,

A correspondent of the Burlington
Qowa) Hawkeye writes as follows to that
paper:
"ln Central Dakota, on the Missouri
bottoms, there exists one of nature 8
strangest freaks. The settlers term 1t
the pump-snake.' How it came there
and where it came from are yet unknown.
1t first made Its appearance in Emmons
County in the spring of 1885. A full
grown pump-snake measures about six.
teen feet in length and about three inches
in diameter. They are of gregarious hab-
its. roaming the prairles in large herds,
as many as 300 having been counted in q
single flock. In dissecting one of these
reptiles there is found tube which ex-
tends from the roof of the jaw to the ex-
tremity of the tail. and terminating in an
opening. This tube is about two inches
in diameter, and lined with teugh,
yielding substance similar to rubber.
The pump-snako is easily trained to an
swer to the call of man. The inhabitants
of this section trap them in large num-
bers.
"a stockman named Billy Patterson
down on Cattall Creek has flock of
twenty pump snakes trained to a remark
able degree of proficiency. At the blast
of a whistle the snakes assemble on the
banks of the creek. The leader (there is
always leader to herd of these snakes
and he is elected annually by two thirds
vote) dashes into the water of the creek,
leaving only the extremity of its tail on
the bank. Another snake Immediately
grasps the end of the leaders tail in its
ond snake tail in a similar manner, and
80 on until there is continuous line of
snakes, joined end on, extending to the
water-trough il the cattle-yards, 300 feet
away. The leading snake commences to
swallow or pump the water Of the creek,
which passes through long line of
snakes as it would through hose, and
falls in heavy stream into the trough.
Zone day not long ago the stockman
was Mortified to see flames issuing from
one corner Of his stable. He ran out to
the building, but could do nothing. 1t
seemed that the stable and contents
we're doomed. Just then he heard a
noise, looked around, and saw his pump
snakes making rapidly for the creek.
They Immediately got into position as
l0T puupluS WHpCI " Gue trough, only
that the last snake swiftly erected him
self and, with his tail revolving in the
air with a 'swish-swish-swish,' be threw
powerful stream upon the fire. Thus
he stood upon his head and squirted until
the famss were quenched. Then the
leader gave a signal to cast loose, and the
| snakes crawled slowly away, seemingly
almost overcome by fatigue.
''Mr. Patterson is justice of the peace
at Wlnona, and he has q novel way of
preserving order in his court. Whenever
| case is to be tried his pump-snakes are
on hand, each one charged with couple
of gallons Of the Misscuri's reilly food.
They secrete themselves in out.ef the.
way places and are rarely seen if the
proceedings are Of . quiet nature. But
woe to the unruly wight who refuses tc
sit down at the judges suggestion. At o
! whistle from their master the snakes ap
|pear, and the offender is deluged.
"The territorial government is being
awakened to the extreme usefulness of
these interesting creatures, and laws are
to be enacted to protect the pump.snake. D